President Barack Obama and the Democratic National Com-mittee raised more than $68m during the fourth quarter of 2011, the president’s re-election campaign said yesterday, giving him a formidable advantage over his Republican challengers.

The total – including $42m for the presidential campaign and $24m to support candidates running for Congress – was lower than in previous quarters but pushed the year’s total past $220m. Jim Messina, Mr Obama’s campaign manager, said it was “a pretty good start” but rejected suggestions the campaign had a $1bn target.

More than 583,000 people donated money during the three months to December 31, including 200,000 who did so for the first time. The average donation was $55, while 98 per cent of donations were $250 or less.